Why Änew
Änew, also known as Anau, is a city situated in Turkmenistan. Set along the foothills of the Kopet Dag mountain range, the settlement lies just eight kilometers south of the national capital, Ashgabat. Derived from a Persian phrase meaning "new water," Änew holds historic significance and was home to 28,653 residents in 2022. It previously served as the administrative center of Ahal Province until late 2022.
Human presence in the area dates back to roughly 5500 BC, associated with the early Chalcolithic Anau culture. Initial habitation was concentrated in the northern portion of the site before shifting southward around 3000 BC, where community life continued until approximately 1000 BC. Archaeological evidence indicates that barley constituted the vast majority of ancient cereal crops cultivated in the area, and abundant charcoal deposits have been identified spanning the years between 4500 and 1000 BC. In the mid-fifteenth century, a prominent mosque was constructed in Änew, though the structure was ultimately destroyed during the 1948 Ashgabat earthquake.
The archaeological legacy of Änew has drawn interest from researchers for well over a century. Initial investigations of local mounds began in 1866 under a Russian general seeking treasures. Comprehensive scientific excavations followed in 1904, led by Raphael Pumpelly and William Morris Davis, with digging overseen by Hubert Schmidt and Wilhelm Dörpfeld. These early efforts unearthed the ancient prehistoric settlement. Pumpelly directed subsequent work in 1908, and further archaeological field research was carried out by Frank T. Hiebert in 1993.
In modern times, Änew was officially granted city status in February 2008. Recognizing its deep heritage and historical contributions to the region, the Permanent Council of Ministers of Culture of TURKSOY named Änew the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World for the year 2024.
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